Months, or rather years, of dedicated observation have finally paid off. It’s been confirmed that the Black Mage is indeed no longer part of this wretched mercenary company. Hasn’t been for years. Officially, the Commander maintains that she’s on leave, but there’s no indication that she’ll ever return from that leave. The illusion of her continued support is maintained by birds carrying orders day and night. There are many of them, but they’re just birds. Thanks to them, the Commander knows what’s happening in each unit and can control not only where his soldiers are but also their condition. I must admit, this simple solution impressed me. It’s not only practical but also serves as propaganda, as many people – including the Company’s own soldiers – believe these are not just mindless animals but actual avatars of the Black Mage or, at the very least, her familiars. I personally find it hard to believe these rumours, but my plans leave no room for error, so I intend to investigate this matter personally and determine if there’s any magic involved. Until then, I’ll stick to the facts.
Despite numerous attempts, I haven’t been able to determine how large is Commander’s flock. I also don’t know who trains them, so I can’t rule out the possibility of some form of magic. The Company recruits anyone and everyone. So far, I haven’t confirmed that they’ve enlisted or coerced other mages into cooperation, but among the sworn medics, there are a few who I could called shamans, if I was in a generous mood. Their power is weak but present and detectable. Echoes from two of them give me reason to believe they might be able to impose their will on captured birds. It’s certainly not a complex form of control, but perhaps it’s about instilling the need to move from one object to another. This kind of spell isn’t difficult and could be mastered even by someone of their caliber if they were born with a hint of real power. This would explain how the birds always find their way. I can only assume that the Commander and squad leaders possess artifacts that attract these enchanted animals. Until I capture one, I can’t verify this hypothesis. Another issue to investigate is whether they can be killed. I’ve been told they’re supposedly immortal, like the Black Mage herself. I don’t believe that for a second – neither their immortality nor hers – and the need to prove it is making me impatient. Calm. I must remain calm and cautious. At this stage, I can’t afford any mistakes.
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